Shoe shank and shank iron therefor



R. DAVIS SHOE SHANK AND SHANK IRON THEREFOR Filed Oct. 5, 1925 M 5 ROBERT DAVIS;

" mvmron Patented July 7, 1925,

UNITED. STATES ROBERT news, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHOE SHANK AND SHANK IRON THEREFOR. i 5;

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DAVIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented new. and useful Improvements in Shoe Shanks and Shank Irons Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to improvements in shoe-shanks and has specific reference to the construction of shank-irons of the type adapted for use in arch supporters and shoe insoles.

The iron in this type of shoe-shank consists of a bowed strip of metal, usually cold rolled steel, longitudinally reenforced throughout its length; and, as a result of this construction the supporter is practically rigid and seldom conforms to the natural arch beneath the instep of the foot. Because of the rigidity of the support, the foot, in walking, is subject to an abnormal elevation causing great discomfiture to the wearer. I have overcome to a great extent the disadvantages of the rigid shank-iron by interrupting the continuity of the reenforcing rib of the shank-iron as described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 655,194, filed August 2, 1923, but it has been found desirable under certain conditions, to subdivide the centrally arranged semi-flexible portion into a series of sections each of which will contribute towards enabling the iron to assume a correct curve without detracting from the supporting. function of a shank-iron used for this purpose.

IVith the foregoing in mind it is the principal object of my invention to improve the present type of shank-iron so as to enable the shank to readily assume the general curve coinciding with that of the metatarsal arch of the particular individual wearing the shoe. I accomplish this object by dividing the longitudinal reenforcing rib of the ordinary iron into a number of alined ribs separated from each other by transverse ribs which enable the whole iron under pressure to adjust itself, at each transverse rib, to any preformed curve. In practice each shankiron is preferably formed by one operation of a die which cuts the blank and simultaneously depresses the metal at the required points thereby forming the series of alter Application filed. October 5, 1923. Serial No. 666,667.

nately elevated and depressed ribs of which the iron is constituted.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a shoe shank embodying my improved shankiron; Figure 2 is a substantially longitudinal view of the same, Figure 3 is a bottonr plan view of the shoe shank and shank-iron attached; Figure l is a perspective view of an unattached iron and Figure 5 is a similar View of a slightly modified form of iron.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the usual leather shank and 11 the shank iron attached to the shank 10. As shown particularly in Figure 1, the shank-iron comprises a narrow bowed strip of cold rolled steel or other suitable metal provided with a longitudinally disposed struck up stiffening rib which is divided into a plurality of sections 12, each of which comprises a depressed curved wall extending from the conca-ved surface of the iron and connected at both ends to the adjacent depressions by upwardly inclined end walls 13, which form transversely arranged ribs 1 1, the upper surface thereof being flush with the general plane of the iron itself. The ends of the iron are forked and the prongs 15 are tapered and bent upwardly at right angles to the plane of the iron to provide fastening means adapted to attach the shank-iron to the shank 10, as shown clearly in Figure 1.

In Figure 5, the shank-iron 11 is reenforced by a series of semi-spherical depressions 12, separated slightly from each other to provide the semi-flexible areas 14; corresponding to the ribs 14 of Figure 1.

In use, a shoe embodying a. shoeshank having my improved type of iron will give greater ease to the wearer, the arch beneath the instep being supported throughout its entire curve and not at but substantially one point as in other similar devices.

What I claim is 1. A shank-iron comprising a plate provided with a stiffening rib having alternating rigid and resilient portions.

2. A shank-iron, as claimed in claim 1, in which the plate is forked at its ends and the prongs formed are tapered and bent at an angle to the plane of the plate substantially as described.

3. I11 a shoe shank, the combination of a shank-iron comprising a bowed plate provided at its ends with prongs adapted to be inserted into the shank and clenched 5 thereover, said plate being provided with In afford springy portions to the shank-iron.

&. A shank-iron provided with a plurality of springy transverse portions separated from each other by reenforcing portions. r

5. A shank-iron having a longitudinally extending stiffening rib divided into a plu-- rality of alternate rigid depressed and resilient elevate-d ribs,

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. 7

ROBERT DAVIS. 

